Street or road cleaning apparatus



Sept. 13,1927.

J. W. WEISMANTEL STREET on ROAD CLEANING APPARATUS wm Qsm Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Illlllldllll |l1i N @www Elm/@JW ATTORNEYS Sept. -13. 1927. A 1,642,000

J; w. wElsMANTr-:L

STREET 0R ROAD CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @La 'By ma@ 1,642,000 Sept- 13 1927' J. w. wElsMANTEL STREET OR ROAD CLEANING APPARATUS Filed A1122. 9. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

.115 is s elfpro lled,.'jand inwhic devices an parts'are-of slmpleconstructlon,

Sem'. 13,1921; c

` Josera w`. WEISHANTEI, or nnwanxfnnw masar emanan.' on Roan ammira rra-Barns.. j

Application managen e. icas. serai ng.. assaggi;

` This invention relates,"l.'igigenerally, to` iml` provements .in streetor road-cleanlng appa.` Mtns; and, the presentlnventlon has refergence. more particularly'toanovel apparatus .li-of the?, general Acharacter hereinafter more fully set forth, which is self-pro elled, andi-Z; which is especially designed forI t e purpose-:

ofremovin employedy or the removal of' dirt and the V@l likefromthe paved surfaces of streets1andith the" purposes/of the, invention above stated, the invention. hasfor its principal object to provide'f a cleaningapgartus which t e varlous and have been effectively arranged, so.V that l "the apparatus will properly-remove 'snow' andparticles ofice .from .the paved surfaces loffst reets andhi hways, thek 'snow and ice i collected withint e apparatus being readily melted and turnedinto Water.

Other objects of the present invention'V not-"at this time more particularlyenumer' ated will -be fully understoodfromgthe detailed description of the present invention. With lthe' various objects of the present [invention in view, the said invention-coniv sists, primarily, in the novel street and roadf #0 cleaning apparatus hereinafter set forth;

and, the said invention consists, kfurthermore, vin-the novel arran ements and com -`l binations of the various as well' asin the details of the yconstruction S5 of the said parts, all of which-will be more fully described in thefollowi'ng specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which vare appended to and` which form an essential part of the said specification.'V

. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a street or road-cleaning apparatus, showin oneembodiment of the principles of t e resent ,inventiom` Figure'2 is a longitudineJ vertiical section of the same; Figure Bis a part plan or top view and horizontal sectional 'v representation of theapparatus; and Figure 'fw Q4 1s a detail view of a portion-of the casing 'of the apparatus,look1ng in the direction of and at the point indicatedbythe arrow w 'I in said Figure' 3, showin an outlet for the water, and dirt from wit in the apparatus,

'55 the coverplate for said opening being shown removed in said Figure 4. Y

evices and parts,

Similarcharacters-.Pof reference-are employed in thej-several-igures ofthe drawings,

to indicate corresponding parts.'-

Referrin nowftofltheseveraligures of the drawin ,t reference-character '1 indicates a comp ete1fs`treet-'rlro'adicleani'n apparaftus made" according ft'og; and r' emb'mgl ,videsfian encldsure -zQri the' 4operating mechanism of; the vehicle,'lfsaidfcas1ng or.- shell befing provided iIiLits-ftop ori-roof'withsuitably locatedventilatorsf 8, substantially asv shown andg-forlthe' purnoses'to be hereinafter more full set forthx; At' v:tha forward end ying the #respectively offfthe-ve icle, and adjacent to-'the .vertical wall'l 9- i-of the said casi'ngLor shell, a suitable vestibule 10 for the driver and operator of the v'ehicle .may beprovided, 1 and .11-` indicates the usual engine-hood which is. located in any usual marmer about the, motor for driving the vehicle. and for -operating- .the various mechanisms'bf the same.v

The means for :transmitting power from the engine or motor to the rearaxle 4 ofthe vehicle being of'` any- `of the well-known'icon-r structions, such mechanism is`not-de sfcribed in the present specification, n'or lha'srthefsame been illustrated in theaccompa'nying drawings, as thisis deemed unnecessa At or near the rear"4 end-portionsz'ofthel'lyon itudinally extendingl members-bf the. c assisframe is ya laterally disposed. .rodelfpro-` -vided with pinions r13Tand;aircrairkr1415for operating the same. In mesh with-:the-.teeth of said pinions 13 is a toothed sectbror rack 15, the main members at the ends of the said sector or rack being'provided with bearingportions 16 in which is rotatably'supported a laterally extending shaftl'?.

The said members of the 'toothed sector or rack are also provided with bracket-like portions 18 having bearings, as 19, in which 1s rotatabl mounted the laterally extending shaft 2O o a rotary-sweeper-brush 21. This brush is partiell i enclosed within a hood or cover, as 2 2, an -is located in close prox# 31 is provided.

imity to an inlet-openin 24 formed in the vertical end-wall 23 of tie previously menticned shell or casin 7. Upon the rear axle 4 is a sprocket-whee 25, the said shaft being also rovided with a sprocket-wheel 26, a linlrain or drive 27 being employed with said s rocket-wheels 25 and 26 for actuating the said shaft 20.

The axle 4 is also provided with another sprocket-wheel 23 over which is `arranged a link-chain or drive 29 which also passes over a sprocket-wheel 30 upon a laterally extending shaft 31 which is rotatably\ mounted in bearing-members 32 secured to and extending downwardly from the chassisframe 2. Extending laterally across the upper portion ci the chamber formed by said shell or casing 7 is a shaft 33 which 1s rovided with a pulley-wheel 34 over whic is arranged a belt 36 passing over and receiving its power from a pulley-wheel 35 with which the reviously-mentioned shaft he reference-character 37 indicates a conve or or apron arranged about the said shafts 17 and 33 in a suitable manner and adapted to be properly1 actuated from the rotary motion of sai shaft Within the chamber formed by the said shell or casing 7 is a receiving compartment' 38 formed by a portion of the end-wall 9 of the shell or casing 7, and suitably disposed wall-members 39 and 40, and a basemember 41, the upper portion of said compartment 38 being o en, as will be evident from an inspection o Figure 2 of the draw- 'ivotally disposed or hinged, as at 42 and 43, in said o en part of the compartment 38, are receiving elements 44 and 45 which are adjustably suspended in their respective positions, by means of chains 46, or other suitable flexible connections, the free controlling ends of which lead into the vestibule 10, where said ends may be suitably fastened, and may be manipulated by the operator of the vehicle, when it is de# sired to raise or lower said elements 44 and 45. v

Suitably disposed within the chamber formed by the said shell or casing 7, at a point between the rear end-wall 23 andthe conveyor or apron 37 is a compartment, as 47, formed by an arrangement of wall-mem bers 48, 49 and 50, with a portion of the said rear end-wall, in which is suitably located a filler-element 51 provided with a suitable closing cap 52, for supplying the said compartment with a liquid fuel, such as crude oil, or the like.

Also suitably secured tothe chassis-frame of the vehicle is an element 53, in the form of an air-forcing and compressing means or pum the axle or shaft 54 of which is provide with a sprocket chain, as 57, which in turn passes over a sprocket-wheel 56 mounted upon the previously mentioned shaft 31, and from which it receives its motion :tor operating the shaft 54 and the air-forcing and compressing means or pump located within the element 53. Means for conducting the compressed air from within the el'ement 53 to within the fuel-containing compartment 47, so as to bring the liquid fuel therein under compression, is in the form of a pipe or duct 58, leading from said element 53 to the compartment 47, as shown, and which pipe or duct may be provided with a pressure-indicating gauge 59, preferably placed within the vestibule 10, so as to be easily observed by the operator of the vehi-` Suitably connected with and leadingl cle. from the interior of the compartment is a fuel-conducting pipe 60, in which may be placed a suitable pressure-annunciator or gauge 61, as indicated in dotted outline in Figure 2, and which pipe 60 may also be provided with suitably constructed oil-burners or heaters, as 62, suitably arran located directly above the receivin element 44, and'whenlighted, that the eat produced will be conveyed directl to said receiving elements 44 and 45. at a proper mixture of oil and air ma. be had at the burners or heaters, brano -connections 63 are made between the pipe 58 and the burners, whereby some of the air which is being forced through the pipe 58 will also be fed into the burners, as will be evident.

Suitably disposed within the compartment 38, and preferabl upon the bottom 41 thereof, is a water-tig t auxiliary shell or casing 64, provided with. suitably disposed bearings 65 vin which is rotatabl mounted a longitudinally extending gear-s aft 66 provided upon its respective ends with bevelgears 67 and 68. Motion of the shaft 66 is produced by means of a bevehpinion 69 in mesh with the gear 67, said pinion 69 being mounted upon a shaft 70, which also carries a pulley-wheel 71. Passing over said pulley-wheel 71 is a drive-belt 72, which receives motion from a driving pulley 73 dsoastobel mounted upon the previously mentioned shaft 31.

Extending laterally across the lower portion of the compartment 38 is a suitably mounted shaft 74 having mounted thereon a bevel-gear 75 which is in mesh with the bevel-gear 68 for driving said shaft 74.4 Mounted upon said shaft 74, onopposite inaaooo being heldin piace by an arrangement of screw-threaded studs 79 and Win nuts 80, as will be evident from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings.

From an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the apparatus is to be used as a snow and iceremover, the burners 62 are lighted, and the vehicle being set in motion, the rotarybroom 19 will force the snow directly upon the conveyor-belt 37, which carrie-s the snow upwardly into the main compartment 7 and discharges it into the pan-shaped melting elements 44 and 45. The heat from the burners or heaters 62 turns the snow and ice into water, which passes from the said elements 44 and 45 into th-e compartment 38, where the water is collected. As soon as this compartment has been suitably filled, the vehicle may be driven along side of a sewer. basin, or other dumping place, where the cover-plates 78 are removed, to permit the conveyor-worms 7 6 to force the water-from the compartment 38. It will also be evident, that at times the worms 7 6 need not be set in motion, in which case the collected Water is permitted to flow by its own grav ity from `the uncovered discharging openings or outlets 77.

In lieu of using the apparatus as a snowremover, it may be used as a street-sweeper for removing .dirt from the paved surface of the street. In that case the burners or heaters 62 are not lighted, but the hinged elements 44 and 45 are suitably lowered, so that the dirt which is being conveyed into the main compartment 7 is discharged directly into the compartment 38, and is then forced by means of the conveyor-worms 76 from the uncovered openings or outlets 77 of the apparatus, as will be evident.

When the apparatus is to be used as a street-flusher,. the apparatus is provided with an auxiliary air-compressor or pump 80', the pump-shaft 81 of which is provided with ai sprocket-wheel 82, over which passes a link-belt 83 which receives its motion from a sprocket-wheel 84 carried by the previously mentioned shaft 54. Air is sucked into the casing which surrounds the pump-mechanism by means of an arrangement of suitably constructed suction-valves 85. i

Within the compartment 38, and in communication therewith, is a water-receiving chamber 86, see said Figure 2 of the drawings, in which the water may be brought under pressure of air from the compressor or pump 80 through a pipe 87,` or from the compressor or pump 53 through the pipe 58 and a branch-pipe 88 which connects said pipe 58 with the interior of said waterf receiving chamber 86. y

Suitably connected with and leading from said chamber 86 is a water-conveying ipe 89, secured in its position to the side o the chassis-frame 2, by means of a suitably constructed bracket' 90, or other fastening means, said pipe 89 being provided at its lower end-portion, near the street-surface, with a suitably formed outlet-nozzle 91, which is usually of the squeegce type, as here shown. If desired, a forwardly extending branch-pipe 92 may be connected with. said pipe 89, the pipe 92 being also provlded at its discharge end with av similar outlet-nozzle 93. rlhe operation of this street-flushing mechanism will be fully understood from an inspection of said Figure 2 of the drawings, and any further description of the same is therefore unnecessary.

rlhe apparatus may also be provided with suitably disposed brackets, as 94, or other suitably Securing means, for verticallyk adjustable relation upon the side of the vehicle, of a stem 95 carrying upon its lower end-portion a pivotally disposed roadscraper, as 96, which is maintained in its pivotal relation by means of the usual holding chains 97.

The various operations of which 'the apparatus is capable will be clearly understood rom the foregoing description and from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings, and any further description of the same is therefore deemed unnecessary.

0f course, l am fully aware that many change-s may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the detailed arrangements and construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which forman essential part of the said specification. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts2 as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. A. street or road-'cleaning apparatus in the form of a motor-propelled vehicle, comprising a main compartment having a waterreceiving chamber in its lower portion,

burners within the upper portion of said main compartment, means for' supplying liquid fuel to said burners, means for conveying snow into the upper portion of said main compartment and beneath said burners, adjustable means within said main compartment to support introduced snow subject to themelting action of said burners, said supporting means being adapted to drain the melted snow into said water receiving chamber, said compartment having in a side thereofan outlet opening leading from said Water receiving chamber, a removable cover to normally close said outlet opening, and a rotary conveyor worm in the bottom of said Water receiving chamber having its discharge end cooperating with said outil-,etf opening.

2( A street or road-cleaning apparatus in the form of a motor-propelled vehicle, comprising a main compartment having a WaterreceivingIr chamber in its lower portion, burners Within the upper portion of said main compartment, means for supplying liquid fuel to said burners, means for conveying snow into the upper portion of said compartment and beneath said burners, and a pair of open ended melting pans to receive and support introduced snow subjects to the melting' action of said burners, said ans being disposed end to end with their adjoining ends overlapping and vertically spaced apart to provide a drainage passage for melted siioiv leading to the underlying water receiving chamber.

3. A street or road-cleaning apparatus in the foi'm of a motor-propelled vehicle, co1nprising a main compartment -having a Wateiieceiving chamber in its lower portion, burners Within the upper portion of said main compartment, means for supplying liquid fuel to said burners, means for conveying snow into the upper portionof said main compartment and beneath said burners, a pair of open ended melting pans to receive and support introduced snow subject to the melting action of said burners, said pans being disposed end to end 'with their adjoining ends overlapping and vertically spaced apartto provide a drainage passage for melted snow leading to the underlying Water receiving chamber, and means for adjusting said pans.

Ll. A street or road-cleaning apparatus in the form of a motor-propelled vehicle, coniprisiiig a main compartment having a Waterreceiving chamber in its lower portion, burners Within the upperportion of said lalandlrin main compartment means for su plying liquid fuel to said nrners, means fdr con veying snow into the upper portion of said main compartment and eneath said burners, a pair of open ended melting pans to receive and support introduced snow subject to the melting action of said burners, said pans being disposed endV to end with their adjoinipg ends Yoverlap ing and vertically spac apart to provi'e a drainage assage for melted snow leading to the undleirlying Water receiving chamber, said compartment having in a side thereof an outlet opening leading from said Water receiving chamber, and a removable cover to normally close said \outlet opening.

5. A street or road-cleaning apparatus in the form of a motor-propelled vehicle2 coinprising a main compartment having a Water-receiving chamber in its lower por tion, burners Within the upper portion of said main compartment, means for supplying liquid fuel to said burners, means for conveying snow into the upperl portion of said main compartment and beneath said burners, a pair of open ended melting pans to receive and support introduced snow subject to the melting action of said burners, said pans being disposed end to end with their adjoining ends overlapping and vertically spaced apart to provide a drainage passage for melted snow leading to the underlying Water receiving chamber, means for adjusting said pans, said compartment having in a side thereof an outlet opening leading from said Water receiving chamber, a removable cover to normally close said out- -let opening, and a rotary` conveyor-worm in the bottom of said Water receiving chamber having its discharge end cooperating with said outlet openinff.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of July, 1923.

JOSEPH W. WEISMANTEL. 

